NRL 2023: Storm knocks Sydney out of the finals with incredible last-gasp try to steal victory

It ended with a Melbourne Storm miracle but a number of controversial refereeing blunders left the Roosters demanding answers after being dumped from the finals.

The winning moment for the Storm. Picture: Getty Images

Melbourne kept alive their premiership chances by the slimmest of margins at AAMI Park on Friday night but Ashley Klein’s hopes of controlling the grand final may have suffered terminal damage.

The Storm started the stronger and finished ever so slightly the better - at least as far as the scoreboard was concerned - as they set up a preliminary final showdown against all-conquering Penrith next weekend at Accor Stadium.

It shapes as an almighty task given the Panthers have had a week off and may have five-eighth Jarome Luai back for that game.

The Storm will also need to overcome a horrific recent record against Penrith, having lost four of their past five games against the premiers including both their meetings this year.

They were soundly beaten in Melbourne in late June and then hammered at Penrith in early August. They could have halfback Jahrome Hughes back for that game but based on Friday night’s evidence, they have plenty of work to do.

The Roosters were decimated by injury but they owned large chunks of the game and rarely looked in any major danger.

Will Warbrick saved the Storm’s season. Picture: Getty Images

It took a piece of Will Warbrick brilliance in the final two minutes to secure the win, the New Zealand rugby union convert flying above Junior Pauga to take a Cameron Munster kick and put the home side back in front.

Moments earlier, with the Roosters leading by one point, the Storm thought they should have had a penalty from virtually in front after Harry Grant copped a hit to the chin from Sam Walker.

Grant took his time to get to his feet, mouthing to Klein, ‘did you see that?’

Klein waved him away and seconds later Warbrick performed his heroics.

The moment Warbrick got the ball down. Picture: Getty Images

It wasn’t the only controversial moment as Klein, who controlled last year’s grand final, had a night to forget. The Roosters were on the wrong end of a glaring error in the first half in the lead-up to the Storm’s second try, which ended up having a telling impact on the match.

“It was pretty clear it was dropped,” Roosters coach Trent Robinson said.

“He (Klein) was right there. It hit the ground, What can you do? It was an error. They went down the other end and scored.

“Moments are key for all of us…. you have to nail them. We don’t expect 50-50s. It’s not the way it has gone in the competition.

“We should have gone down and defended the play at the end of that. They shouldn’t have scored off the back of that. We should have been better than that. We should have finished the game and won the game.

“That is the feeling that sits there.”

Grant was a surprise starter on the interchange bench and after he entered the fray, he appeared to knock-on a kick on his own try-line.

Roosters coach Trent Robinson was apoplectic in the box but Klein ruled play on, the Storm received a penalty and soon enough Marion Seve scored. Replays clearly showed Grant had lost the ball.

Warbrick celebrates with teammates after the try. Picture: Getty Images

Confronted by roosters captain James Tedesco afterwards, Klein apologised.

“I thought he got his arm underneath,” Klein said.

Tedesco replied: “That wasn’t even close. And they could’ve challenged it. Sir you’ve got to give us the benefit of the doubt. That was obvious.”

Klein then apologised.

“I only call it as it as I see it,” he said.

“I apologise. I can’t say any more than that.”

It was an alarming mistake given Klein was in the perfect position to make the call. In the end, it proved the difference between the two sides in a game which reached a stunning climax but won’t have put the fear of God into Penrith.

So muted was the second half, the loudest cheer was reserved for injured fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen, who was seated high in the hands with his broken leg in a cast.

That was until Warbrick intervened. Stand-in halfback Tyran Wishart looked for a long time like he would be the hero for Melbourne after marking his late call-up with the opening try.

But Warbrick’s intervention ended up saving Melbourne, sending them into a preliminary final against a familiar enemy.